Book-theater.



C. CATREVAS BOOK THEATER. APPLlCATlON i'lLED DEC. 27,1915.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

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BOOK THEATER.

APPLICATION HLED DEC. 21. 1915.

1,179,163. PatentedApr. 11,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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' and consists UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTINA CATREVAS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BOOK-THEATER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, CHRISTINA CA'r zEvAs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Theaters, of whichthe'following is a specification.

This invention relates to toy theaters and particularly to those made inknock-down.

book form. It contemplates such structure of the book and contentswhereby the mainparts of the theater in'folded form serve as covers forthe book and constitute a portfolio or container for all other partsincluding scenery characters costumes'and the book of the play.

The invention therefore consists in the structure of parts and in theirassociation, combination and arrangement substantially as hereinafterset forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this. specificationFigure 1 shows the theater book or book theater in the compact foldedform of non-use; Fig.2 illustrates the book theater opened and allremovable parts taken out save the book I theater which serves as theback cover of the book. The back of the theater 13 ,is hinged in anysuitablewayto the inside of the back cover as material as 13 ,glued tothe cover, a score or the like having been made at 14 between tab andtheater back to allow the latter to This hinge is indicated at 12 ofbinders linen appliedin the usual manner in forming backs of books.

To hold the front and back walls of the book Fig. 1.

- theater in raised position, Fig. 4, suitable beams 15 similar to thosedisclosed in my Patent No. 1,107,757 of Aug. 18, 1914, are provided.These and the parts of the theater already described are preferably madeof cardboard. The beams consist-of strips 7 Specification of LettersPatent. A

Application filed December 27, 1915. Serial No. 68,671.

the proscenium to, the

by'a tab 14 of the same Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

scored longitudinally through themiddle as at 15, so that they maybefolded upon themselves when put into place. The ends of the beams. arenotched and when inserted in holes 16 in the proscenium and holes 17 andnotches 18 in the back 13 the beam notches engage the proscenium and theback and hold said parts in proper position.

A raised flooror stage is preferably provided the better to facilitatethe setting of scenery with its downwardly extending tenons. Such flooris indicated by 19. It is provided with a front tab20, back tab 21 andside tabs 22 to be folded downward along scored lines 22 for stiifeningthe floor at itsedges. width as to rest, upon the foundation l1 andsupport the rear of 'the floor. The side tabs also have ledges or lugs23 out therefrom which remain inthe same plane as the floor and projectsufliciently to rest upon the The back tab is also of such floor beams15. Obviously. the front and side tabs of the floor may be made as wideas the back tab but by making them as described the floor with tabsunfolded lies within the confines of the covers 10 and 11 when the bookisfolded and allows the area of the book to be somewhat restricted.

Holes24 are cut in the floor to receive the tenons 25 formed on thelower ends of wings 26 back-drop 27 and .such other scenery as may beprovided with the different plays to be put on. The parts of the alsohave notched shoulders 28 for scenery engagement with the upper beams15. These features of the scenery tailin the .patent above mentioned andare are set forth in dehere shown-with only sufiicient fullness t0 Iclearly disclose the present invention.

The book of the play indicated at 29 is of a size such that it may beinclosed in the covers and preferably tied to theback 12 by a cord orribbon 30 the title showing through the proscenium. The characters andcostumes will preferably be printed in I sheets in a manner well knownand the sheets inserted in .the book between the, folded-down back 13and the book of the or otherwise located therein as desired. The scenerywill also be printed in sheets and similarly. inserted. The scenery, thecharacters and the costumes are to be cut out by the children in settingup the theater and putting on the 'play. The char.- acters will beOOIlStI'UlCtBdDP mounted in any suitable manner for" placement andmovement about the stage and some or all may be provided with removablecostumes and proscenium hinged "together to formcovers of a-book, atheater back hinged at its lower edge to said foundation, notched beamsfor engaging said proscenium and back at their upper and lower edges-tohold them perpendicularly to said foundation, and a floor or stage forinsertion between the proscenium the back and the floor beams.

2. A toy theater having a foundation and a proscenium and a back mountedthereon, floor beams connecting the proscenium and back, and a stagehaving turned-down flaps on its edges for the purpose set forth and alsohaving lugs at its sides cut from the side flaps for resting upon thefloor beams.

3. A book theater consisting of a proscenium and foundation forming thecovers thereof, a theater back hinged to the inside of the foundationand foldable inwardly thereon, removable beams for holding theproscenium and the back perpendicularly to the foundation, a removablefloor insertible between the proscenium and back and constructed to restin part upon said beams, and a book of the play provided with means forsecuring it in the covers so that .the title thereof may show throughthe proscenium, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

CHRISTINA CATREVAS.

